New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers Jonathan Jones-USA TODAY Sports

NFL analyst shares bold Jets take about Super Bowl LVIII

Former quarterback and current ESPN personality Dan Orlovsky believes Aaron Rodgers can guide the New York Jets past the Kansas City Chiefs en route to earning a berth in Super Bowl LVIII. 

"I’ve never seen this Aaron Rodgers before," Orlovsky said during an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up!" program, per Bridget Hyland of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "And I’ve seen him since the moment we came into the NFL together. One that refreshed, that energized, that excited and happy while also having the chip on the shoulder. Now maybe the chip on the shoulder isn’t being outwardly expressed as much as in May, as we potentially could see in September and October, but it is absolutely there."

Orlovsky said he thinks the Green Bay Packers ran Rodgers "out of town" following the 2022 season so they could turn to 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love. Additionally, Orlovsky noted Rodgers should thrive once again playing under Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett after those two previously worked together in Green Bay.

Orlovsky then named the Jets and Buffalo Bills as his two candidates to dethrone the Chiefs as AFC champions.

"I think this is the best defense Aaron’s ever played with. And he played with one really, really good defense in Green Bay in like 2010. I think they won the Super Bowl," Orlovsky continued. "This will be the best defense he’s played with. Energized, offended and talented, this is a team that could absolutely beat the Kansas City Chiefs."

Star cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner confidently said last month that making the playoffs should be "easy" for the 2023 Jets with Rodgers serving as their quarterback. Meanwhile, the 2022 Jets began Week 14 this past December at 7-5 before signal-caller Mike White suffered fractures to his ribs during a loss at the Buffalo Bills. Gang Green never recovered from that setback and finished at 7-10.

Rodgers sounds ready to roll and even willing to make temporary enemies inside the New York locker room if doing so helps the club achieve its goal of playing through February. If Rodgers views the upcoming season as a "revenge tour" as Orlovsky suggested, the AFC's road to Super Bowl LVIII may ultimately go through MetLife Stadium. 

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